Steeped in Science, Submersed in Story

Dr. Fossel covers all the basics of aging: how it works on the molecular level (and why the theories you've heard about aging are wrong), what it affects on the physiological level, and what could be different if we could slow it down, prevent it, or even reverse it. He tells us how telomerase has worked in laboratory settings, paints a picture of society without diseases associated with aging, and maintains a practitioner's focus on action rather than theory. I learned a lot about how aging happens and what exciting possibilities seem to be on our horizon.

Dr. Fessel is, without question, an unabashed optimist when it comes to those possibilities. He believes that the risks regarding cancer are negligible.. they have been, more or less so far. There's little mention of telomerase inhibitor resistace, and his listing of the possibilities for an improved planet and economy with major population changes are too rose-colored to have been the result of serious study. To be fair, he doesn't claim that as his area of expertise. But it seems there are lots of follow-up questions of ethics that will need to be dealt with as the Telomerase Revolution marches forward. I do agree with him, though, that to refuse to let telomerase research advance when we have the opportunity is also unethical. It's complicated, and we're at the beginning of the process. But this book will at least give people an opportunity to examine the changes at our threshold, ready to knock down the door.

I got a free copy of this from Net Galley.